CHAPTER VII 



SUPERVISION, INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT 



TITLES and definitions in the Demonstration Work are of 

 supreme importance because they indicate the motive 

 and method of it. The working system is based upon the doer 

 rather than upon the thing done. The human element is more 

 important than crops, soils or farm animals. It is active, 

 vital and animate. Thus demonstrator, agent and club 

 member are more valuable terms than agronomy, animal hus- 

 bandry and entomology, however interesting and necessary 

 they may be in academic teaching. An agent may have de- 

 grees in agriculture or home economics and still be unable to 

 secure impressive demonstrations in these subjects. Ability 

 as a trainer and influence as a leader of the mass are the 

 prime requisites and qualifications for extension workers of 

 all kinds. An agent who has these powers and also has the 

 best scientific training should have the greatest possible 

 success. 



In the inauguration and establishment of the Demonstra- 

 tion Work, system and management were largely responsible 

 for its success. A county agent was required to visit his demon- 

 strators at least once a month; the district agent visited the 

 county agent just about that often and the state agent was 

 supposed to check up on the district agent often enough to 

 keep himself perfectly familiar with developments. It is 

 difficult to fully estimate the value of these periodical visits. 

 The farmers and the members of the family, who are demon- 



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